Original story by CBC News – 05 Oct 2022

A group of southwest Calgary neighbours sprung into action Monday morning to rescue a great-horned owl they found tangled in a soccer net.

Derek Jugnauth was walking his kids to the school bus in the community of Patterson Heights when they noticed a cluster of kids standing around the net.

What he did not expect to discover upon approaching it was a large bird of prey with striking eyes, tangled up and trapped with a tightly wrapped wing

Jugnauth ran to get owl-rescuing supplies including scissors and chopsticks (although he’s still not sure why he grabbed the chopsticks).

“[I] started to try and trim the net away, causing a rather big hole. I think I probably owe the City of Calgary the cost of a replacement,” he said.

Luckily, Jugnauth was soon joined by Torie Findlay — a Patterson Heights resident who is passionate about saving birds.

Findlay spotted the situation when her own son was catching the bus, and returned with welding gloves and a towel, which she noticed tended to calm birds who might lash out.

She gently wrapped the owl up and held its feet, while Jugnauth trimmed the netting.

“I put it inside of a pet carrier, and I ended up making some phone calls,” she said.

Alberta Birds of Prey Foundation… directed her to Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (@calgarywildlife), where she dropped off the owl — who was rushed to the vet.

Findlay was happy to find out the owl sustained only small cuts on its foot and will be just fine.

The owl was released into the wild, close to where it was found, in case that was near its family or hunting ground.

For those willing and able please consider helping fund Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society at the following DONATION LINK. Your generosity ensures the best possible care for their animal guests.

xo owlsintowels

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